AUBURN -- Auburn coach Gene Chizik criticized an HBO show Wednesday night that featured four former players who said they were paid by boosters at the school.

Chizik said Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel interviewed former Auburn players who said there were no improper payments, but the network chose not to air those players.

"I think it is pathetic and pure garbage," Chizik said.

Chizik disputed the charges of the former players who claimed wrongdoing.

"That's not who we are. That's not how our program is going to be run," Chizik said.

Chizik was particularly disappointed HBO didn't show players who said they were not paid.

"It's sad to me, it's very sad to me, that HBO is going to go ahead and air something that, really admittedly, they've got no proof on anything," Chizik said. "What's disturbing to me is that they interviewed other former Auburn football players who had exactly the opposite to say but somehow or another that failed to make the air.

"I have other former players calling me, who are still playing, that had no knowledge of any of that stuff."

Chizik said HBO did not seek his response to the claims.

Chizik, Auburn's head coach the last two years, was the team's defensive coordinator when some of the players said the improper payments were made. One of the players who made the claims of receiving payments, Stanley McClover, played at Auburn two years in which Chizik was the defensive coordinator.

"When I was the defensive coordinator here from 2002 to 2004, all of the allegations that are out there on this particular show, I can assure you, in my three previous years here as an assistant, I had no knowledge of any of that stuff," Chizik said.

The SEC Office announced earlier in the day that Auburn, LSU and the league have reported allegations of payments to the NCAA. McClover, Raven Gray, Troy Reddick and Chaz Ramsey made the claims. Other former players who played with those four have come forward the last two days said they were not aware of any payoffs.

Auburn's athletics director and the university president said the school would cooperate with the investigation.

The SEC said the league office, Auburn and LSU had "communicated with the NCAA Enforcement Staff" over the contents of the show.

Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said the school will cooperate in the investigation.

"While HBO confirmed to us they have no proof that any of these claims are true, we contacted both the NCAA and Southeastern Conference as soon as these allegations surfaced. We have engaged outside counsel to investigate this matter and will spare no resources to find the truth," Jacobs said.

Auburn President Jay Gogue said his school will "play by the rules."

"Jay Jacobs and the athletics department are committed to that priority. They will investigate these allegations thoroughly and completely," Gogue said in a statement.

McClover said he received money from boosters from both Auburn and LSU.